James Trotter Jr
Band Story
A Life of the Blues: The Journey of J. Trotter Jr.
The blues isn’t just a genre—it’s a way of life, a testimony etched into the soul. For J. Trotter Jr., the blues is not merely something he sings; it’s something he’s lived, endured, and ultimately, overcome.
Trotter's story begins in Portsmouth, Virginia, where tragedy struck early. At just five years old, he lost his father in a house fire. The trauma was heavy, and the path forward uncertain. His mother moved the family to Rochester, raising him along with three brothers and two sisters under challenging circumstances. Young and struggling, Trotter often found himself in trouble, eventually landing in juvenile court. It was there that a judge made a decision that changed the course of his life—he was placed with foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thornton. Looking back, he considers this one of the greatest blessings of his life. “God bless them,” he says—they are both now deceased.
Trotter’s early education took place at Chestnut Ridge Elementary, Fairbanks Road, Churchville Junior High, and Churchville Senior High. He turned to sports to cope with his past, using athletics as a bridge to focus on the future. But despite his physical capabilities, he still lacked something crucial—a goal. Upon graduation, the only thing waiting for him was the harsh reality of the streets. With no money and nowhere to go, he made a daring move—in the summer of 1971, he hitchhiked to California.
That journey, too, was fraught with trials. He was shot at in Kentucky and endured the scorching heat of Tucson, Arizona, where the soles of his shoes nearly melted in the desert sun. Eventually, a truck driver gave him a lift, and somehow, through a twist of fate, he ended up in Venice, Italy. There, he stayed with a friend and began performing on the beach for money. It was on that beach that he met the musicians who would become part of a band called The Westministers.
The band caught the attention of a then-unknown Barry White, who had just produced a million-selling single for his wife’s group, Love Unlimited, titled “Walking in the Rain (With the One I Love).” They auditioned for him right in his office. Barry loved the sound—but negotiations fell through when the band’s leader asked for more money than White was willing to offer. Still, Barry welcomed them into the studio and played them a song that would soon make history—“Never Gonna Give You Up.” It was a moment of near-success, one that left an indelible mark on Trotter’s memory.
Years later, in 1980, another life-altering event occurred—a near-fatal car accident left Trotter with hemiparesis, paralyzed on his left side. Doctors told him he would never walk again. For a moment, despair set in. But then he turned to prayer.
“I cried for a while, then I decided to pray,” he says. Despite falling repeatedly, he kept trying to walk. A week later, to the astonishment of doctors and nurses, he walked unaided down the hospital corridor. “There is no medical explanation for this,” one doctor said, staring at his chart. But Trotter knew the answer: “God answered my prayers.”
“I used to ‘talk the talk,’ but never truly ‘walked the walk.’ That moment changed everything,” he reflects. “I’m not here to preach—but I know this: to receive, you have to believe.”
Today, J. Trotter Jr. lives the blues—but more importantly, he triumphs over them. His story is one of pain, perseverance, faith, and music. It's a tale that proves no matter how dark the days, there is always light ahead for those who keep walking.
The blues isn’t just a genre—it’s a way of life, a testimony etched into the soul. For J. Trotter Jr., the blues is not merely something he sings; it’s something he’s lived, endured, and ultimately, overcome.
Trotter's story begins in Portsmouth, Virginia, where tragedy struck early. At just five years old, he lost his father in a house fire. The trauma was heavy, and the path forward uncertain. His mother moved the family to Rochester, raising him along with three brothers and two sisters under challenging circumstances. Young and struggling, Trotter often found himself in trouble, eventually landing in juvenile court. It was there that a judge made a decision that changed the course of his life—he was placed with foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thornton. Looking back, he considers this one of the greatest blessings of his life. “God bless them,” he says—they are both now deceased.
Trotter’s early education took place at Chestnut Ridge Elementary, Fairbanks Road, Churchville Junior High, and Churchville Senior High. He turned to sports to cope with his past, using athletics as a bridge to focus on the future. But despite his physical capabilities, he still lacked something crucial—a goal. Upon graduation, the only thing waiting for him was the harsh reality of the streets. With no money and nowhere to go, he made a daring move—in the summer of 1971, he hitchhiked to California.
That journey, too, was fraught with trials. He was shot at in Kentucky and endured the scorching heat of Tucson, Arizona, where the soles of his shoes nearly melted in the desert sun. Eventually, a truck driver gave him a lift, and somehow, through a twist of fate, he ended up in Venice, Italy. There, he stayed with a friend and began performing on the beach for money. It was on that beach that he met the musicians who would become part of a band called The Westministers.
The band caught the attention of a then-unknown Barry White, who had just produced a million-selling single for his wife’s group, Love Unlimited, titled “Walking in the Rain (With the One I Love).” They auditioned for him right in his office. Barry loved the sound—but negotiations fell through when the band’s leader asked for more money than White was willing to offer. Still, Barry welcomed them into the studio and played them a song that would soon make history—“Never Gonna Give You Up.” It was a moment of near-success, one that left an indelible mark on Trotter’s memory.
Years later, in 1980, another life-altering event occurred—a near-fatal car accident left Trotter with hemiparesis, paralyzed on his left side. Doctors told him he would never walk again. For a moment, despair set in. But then he turned to prayer.
“I cried for a while, then I decided to pray,” he says. Despite falling repeatedly, he kept trying to walk. A week later, to the astonishment of doctors and nurses, he walked unaided down the hospital corridor. “There is no medical explanation for this,” one doctor said, staring at his chart. But Trotter knew the answer: “God answered my prayers.”
“I used to ‘talk the talk,’ but never truly ‘walked the walk.’ That moment changed everything,” he reflects. “I’m not here to preach—but I know this: to receive, you have to believe.”
Today, J. Trotter Jr. lives the blues—but more importantly, he triumphs over them. His story is one of pain, perseverance, faith, and music. It's a tale that proves no matter how dark the days, there is always light ahead for those who keep walking.
Band Members
James Trotter Jr
James Trotter Jr
Location: EUROPE: Italy
Genre: Rhythmic Soul